So I must admit that I am a bit torn the proposed 600 W. viaduct section of the Airport TRAX line.

Many of you probably have not even heard of this particular section of the otherwise widely praised TRAX line that would create a continuous line from the University of Utah to the Airport; basically issue is being raised about how to align the very beginning of the track and get it over Commuter Rail and Union Pacific lines. For your own sake, I recommend you check out this .pdf file of how the proposed line will be constructed.

Here is where my troubles kick in.

Pro 600 W. alignment say that things have changed since the original line was proposed way back in 1999…namely The Gateway has been placed in two square blocks, from North Temple to 200 S. and from 400 W. to 500 W.

The Gateway has caused property values to go up and makes a 400 S. alignment more expensive that originally planned. AH HA, but thats the rub. The Boyer Company, owners of The Gateway, are opposed to 400 W. alignment because it would “box in” the Gateway. To some degree they are correct, but I feel that they are more concerned about loosing money for the 6 months to a year required to construct around The Gateway (also somewhat understandable as The Gateway will just be recovering from a 18 month project to extend the line to the Intermodal Hub).

My main concern from this end is that the temporary business interests are overriding the long term interests of West Side residents. Time and time again the needs of West Siders have been trounced on in the name of special interests.

But here is the other rub. As near as I can tell (via Google Earth), it appears that 19 homes, 1 apartment complex, and 1 planned apartment complex, are affected by the proposed route. I honestly don’t know if that is enough to justify the extra cost required to send the trains down 400 W. Furthermore rails have proven to be a huge economic benefit to the areas directly around them. We must consider what 6 square blocks surround the development will look like (and what could look like) in 10, 15, 25 years. Is it possible that these residents are standing in the way of honest and constructive progress?

In the end, I lean slightly towards leaving things the way they are currently planned. I trust that the economic developments will pay for themselves. Unlike most rails, Mass Transit lines bring people together, rather than tear them apart. To read more about UTA’s current plans, click here. To read learn more about people against the 600 W. line, click here.

P.S. I fully acknowledge that I have called Draper stupid for not embracing a TRAX line extension, and I still stand by that statement. The difference here is that we are discussing only one section of track as opposed to an entire realignment. Furthermore Draper has not been continually ignored/abused by decision makers.